Footwear with Metatarsal Offloading

ABSTRACT

A high heeled shoe and shoe sole insert are provided that are configured to provide relief from the forces on the foot created by walking in high heels. The shoe comprises a layered sole having an outsole, a midsole, and an insole. The midsole of the shoe comprises a cutout that is positioned over the metatarsal pressure point of the user&#39;s foot when positioned within the shoe. The cutout is filled with a shock absorbing material, such as Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and includes a layer of paperboard for further cushioning. The shoe sole insert similarly includes a metatarsal padded region and a medial longitudinal arch pad to provide a layer of cushioning above the midsole of a user&#39;s footwear. The present invention provides relief while wearing high heels by cushioning the user&#39;s foot in high pressure zones, thereby relieving the pressure and reducing injuries or soreness.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/138,192, filed on Dec. 23, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/808,050 filed on Apr. 3, 2013, entitled“High-Heeled Footwear with Metatarsal Offloading.” The above identifiedpatent applications are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear. More particularly, thepresent invention pertains to high-heeled footwear and footwear insertsthat attenuate the pressure exerted onto the metatarsal and heal regionof the foot.

High-heeled shoes are a style of footwear that raises the heel of awearer's foot to a higher position than the toes. High heels are oftenworn for aesthetic reasons, as they provide the illusion that the wearerhas longer and more slender legs. Conventional high heels generallyinclude a heel section ranging from two to five inches in length, and atoe region positioned closer to ground level to angle the wearer's heelupwards. The shoe is available in a wide range of female styles thatrange from stilettos, pumps, peep-toes, wedges, to platforms. High heelscan also be found for men in the form of cowboy boots and Cuban heels.

High-heeled shoes are often designed for aesthetics, with little regardfor how they affect the biomechanics of the foot. As can be appreciated,walking with an elevated heel places a higher load on the metatarsalregion of the foot as the weight of the body is shifted forward. Thisadditionally causes a forward pelvic tilt, which requires a user to leanbackwards in order to maintain balance. The corrective orientationplaces additional strain on the hips and lower back. Another conditioncreated by high heels is overarching of the back, which creates aforward head posture that may strain the muscles of the neck.Furthermore and in addition this hip and back pain, high heels createanterior loading on the subchondral bone, which causes anterior kneepain, which can also shorten the gastronomies, soleus, and Achillestendon, leading to muscle spasms and pain.

There are a variety of devices that attempt to relieve pressure on thefoot. One such solution is to provide a cushioned insert that isconfigured for placement over the insole of a shoe. These inserts,however, often are poorly fit within the shoe and result in slipping andsliding within the shoe. Moreover, because these inserts are placed ontop of the insole, they raise the user up within the shoe. This causesthe user to have a center of gravity that was not intended with thedesign of the shoe. What is needed is a shock absorbing shoe insert thatprovides relief without compromising the original design of the shoe.

The present invention overcomes the problems inherent in traditionalfootwear with a high heel sole. The device comprises a high-heeled shoeplatform having a cutout in the midsole of the shoe. The cutout ispositioned over the metatarsal pressure point and provides a recess forthe addition of padding, such as EVA foam. The recess is then coveredwith paperboard. Affixed over the paperboard is a padded insole thatsupports the foot and prevents rotation thereof when walking orstanding. The insole may comprise a unitary material or may comprise thepadded shoe sole insert of the present invention. Use of the presentshoe and insert helps to offload the pressure that would otherwise beexerted onto the metatarsal, thereby providing a more comfortablearticle of footwear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to shockabsorbing inserts. These include devices that have been patented andpublished in patent application publications. These devices generallyrelate to foam inserts that are placed in shoes. The following is a listof devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which areherein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiatingthe unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlightingthe drawbacks existing in the prior art.

One such prior art device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,860 to Blissett providesa metatarsal cushioning shoe portion that includes a flexible forefootportion. A resilient foam material is positioned in an aperture formedin the metatarsal head support area in the bottom of a shoe. Althoughthe prior art device of Blissett is similar in nature and relevant tothe present invention, it fails to provide a midsole insert for highheeled shoes.

Another prior art device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,573 to Giese provides ashoe bottom having a lower layer of a firm material, and an upper softerlayer attached thereto. The upper layer has an upper surface that isshaped to fit the bottom of the foot of a user. The device however,fails to provide a foam insert that is insertable within a cavity of themidsole of a shoe.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,077 to Pyle teaches a layered cushioning systemconfigured for the sole of a woman's pumps. The sole comprises aflexible polyurethane outsole containing a recess in the upper forepartof the shoe. Within the recess is a molded a shock-absorbing foaminsert. While the shoe of Pyle is similar to that of the presentinvention, it fails to provide a shock absorbing foam configured tooffload the forces of the metatarsal area that occur during walking.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,729 to Heierling provides a ski boot that comprisesa stiff outer boot and a soft inner lining for receiving the foot of askier. The sole of the ski boot includes an elastic zone that devicesthe sole into front and rear portions, thus enabling the sides to pivotwith each other. The ski boot of Heierling, however, fails to provide amidsole cutout that comprises a shock absorbing foam.

Another prior art device, U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,164 to Morales provides ashoe having a multilayered sole with embedded padding. One of the layersincludes a sheet of base material having a hole through its centralregion. A cushioning pad may be attached to the base so as to fill thehole. However, while the device is similar in nature and relevant to thepresent invention, it fails to provide a longitudinal arch cushioninginsert.

Finally, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0096745 to Donato provides ashoe insole, whereby the insole comprises a cavity in the area of themetatarsal region of the foot and is configured to relieve a portion ofthe direct pressure from the insole against the metatarsal region. Theprior art of Donato, however, fails to provide a longitudinal archcushioning insert.

The present invention, however, alleviates the shortcomings of the shoearticles and shoe inserts of the prior art. The present inventioncomprises a high-heeled shoe with a padded inserts configured to offloadthe pressures associated with walking in high heeled shoes. The highheel shoe comprises an insole, midsole, and outsole. Within the midsoleis a cavity that comprises a padded member, wherein the member ispositioned along the metatarsal region of the user's foot. Severallayers are provided for increased padding, while a cushioned insert isfurther provided for cushioned locomotion. The shoe and the insert areboth designed to alleviate discomfort and pressure while walking in ahigh heeled shoe.

The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theprior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to shock absorbing foam inserts. In this regard theinstant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofsole inserts and high heeled shoes now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides a new shoe midsole design wherein the samecan be utilized for providing convenience for the user when relief whilewearing high heeled shoes is desired.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved shoe midsole that has all of the advantages of the prior artand none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe designthat provides relief for a user wearing high heeled shoes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide shoe design thatpositions padding over the metatarsus head region of the foot.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe designthat is positioned along the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of the shoe and insert design ofthe present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the shoe with metatarsal headand medial longitudinal padded inserts.

FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of the padded inserts within the sole ofthe shoe.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a user's foot within the shoe ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the sole insert. For the purposes of presenting a brief andclear description of the present invention, the preferred embodimentwill be discussed as used for providing relief for a person wearing highheeled shoes. The figures are intended for representative purposes onlyand should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a cross-sectional view of thehigh heel shoe of the present invention, whereby the shoe includes apadded insert that is configured for shock absorption and includes ametatarsal head cutout 35 therein for additional padding. The sole ofthe high heel shoe 10 includes a modified design, comprises an insole20, a midsole 25, and an outsole 30 section vertically disposedtherethrough and adapted to alleviate pain while walking therein. Fromfront to back, the sole comprises a forward toe portion 11, a metatarsalhead region 12 and a rear heel portion 13.

The midsole cutout 35 is a cavity within the midsole 25 that is filledwith a shock absorbing material 40. The shock absorbing material 40provides cushioning to the metatarsal head region of the user's footwhen positioned therein, which helps to offload the pressure that wouldotherwise be exerted onto the metatarsal head region of the user whenwalking and standing. The shock absorbing material 40 is preferablycomprised of Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also known as “expandedrubber” or “rubber foam”. Shape of the shoe and the relative heights ofthe forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal head region 12 and a rear heelportion 13 are configured to position the metatarsal head region of theuser's foot over the cutout 35, which creates a posterior shift thewearer's center of gravity and positions the cutout 35 in the optimumlocation to absorb energy. The shape of the shoe also lessens the pelvictilt of the wearer, thereby lessening the degree to which the wearerleans backwards to maintain balance. The posterior shift also reducesstrain on the knees, hips, and lower back.

A layer of paperboard 22 is positioned above the midsole 25 to furtherdissipate the forces of impact while a user is walking or standing. Thepaperboard 22 may include an open portion adapted to accept therethroughthe shock absorbing material 40 of the midsole 25 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) orthe paperboard 22 may be coextensive with the midsole 25 and bepositioned over the shock absorbing material 40 thereof. The insole 20,which comprises either a uniform foam padding material or a compositedesign, is positioned over the paperboard 22 layer. The combination ofthe insole layers serves to provide a cushioning layer configured fordissipating the forces that act on the foot of a user during use of highheels.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, there is shown a cross-sectional view of thehigh heel shoe 10, whereby the insole 20 of the shoe includes multiplepadded regions that are configured for shock absorption. The insole 20shown in FIG. 1B is a composite design having a defined a forward toeportion 11, a metatarsal padding region 42, a medial longitudinal archpad 45, and a rear heel portion 12. The metatarsal padding region 42comprises a foam padded region forward for the longitudinal arch pad 45along the insert, while the medial longitudinal arch pad 45 thereof isorthopedically shaped to follow the curve of the user's mediallongitudinal arch to provide support thereto. This insole 20 designprovides support to the medial arch, helps to control excessivepronation or foot flattening, and prevents foot, leg and lower backfatigue. The metatarsal padding region 42 is positioned over the cutout35 in the midsole 25, which provides support to the metatarsal region ofthe foot and offloads pressure that is concentrated on the ball of thefoot. The combination of the metatarsal shock absorbing material 40 ofthe midsole, the metatarsal padding region 42 thereover, and thelongitudinal arch padding 45, the assembly provides considerable footpain relief while wearing the shoe 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an overhead view of thecomposite padded insert 20 adapted to be positioned within the sole of ahigh heeled shoe and above the midsole. The composite padded insert 20comprises a forward toe portion 11, a metatarsal padding region 42, amedial longitudinal arch pad 45, and a rear heel portion 12. Themetatarsal padding region 42 extends laterally across the insert, whilethe medial longitudinal arch pad 45 is n arch-shaped pad aft of themetatarsal padding region 42. The metatarsal padding region 42 and thelongitudinal pads 45 are preferably comprised of a shock absorbing foam,such as EVA, for shock absorption and energy attenuation receiveddirectly from the bottom of a user's foot. The metatarsal padding region40 is adapted to be placed over the padded cutout of the midsole and themedial longitudinal arch pad 45 contours to the user's arch, whereinboth are padded and retain their position along the interior of the shoeby way of the shape of the insert. The shape of the insert is the sameas the shape of the shoe and is coextensive therewith, which comprises arear heel portion, a metatarsal head region and a toe portion.

The medial longitudinal arch pad 45 comprises a contoured layer of shockabsorbing material that includes a first thickness region 46 and asecond thickness region 47. The thickness of the first region 46 ispreferably less than the thickness of the second region 47. The mediallongitudinal arch pad 45 contours to the natural lines of a user's archand provides a pad thereunder to fill the natural gap between the user'sarch and the insole, or to support an otherwise pronating arch of a userwhile walking.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of auser's foot within the shoe of the present invention, wherein theuniform insole 20 is shown. A paperboard layer 22 is positioned betweenthe midsole 25 and the padded insole 20, where in the paperboard layer22 covers the padded cutout 35 thereof. The paperboard 22 absorbs thepressure exerted on the sole of the shoe below the insole, and providesa springboard effect in the metatarsal region of the foot. As the weightof the wearer transfers to the metatarsal region, it compresses thepaperboard 22 and shock absorbing material 40 within the cutout 35,which distributes the forces that would otherwise be transferred fromthe shoe and into the foot. The paperboard 22 and shock absorbingmaterial 40 compress, dissipate the force, and spring back to theiroriginal position.

The depth and positioning of the metatarsal region cutout can be adaptedto ensure proper posterior shift of the wearer's center of gravity isachieved. Additionally, the location of the medial longitudinal arch pad45 and metatarsal padding region 42 can be tailored within the paddedinsole 20 to ensure proper offloading occurs. In an alternativeembodiment, the present invention can include a cutout aperture in thepaperboard 22 that aligns with the metatarsal region. The aperturecreates an opening for the inclusion of EVA foam to support themetatarsal region in place of conventional paperboard. This providesadditional offloading in the metatarsal region.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A high heeled shoe, consisting of: a sole comprising anoutsole, a midsole, an insole, a forward toe portion, a metatarsal headregion and a rear heel portion; the forward toe portion configured tocorrespond in position to a toe region of a wearer's foot; themetatarsal head region configured to correspond in position to ametatarsal region of the wearer's foot; whereby the midsole is coveredby a coextensive layer of material disposed between the midsole and theinsole; the midsole and the coextensive layer of material comprising asingle cutout positioned at the metatarsal head region, the singlecutout contained entirely within the metatarsal head region; the singlecutout having a depth less than a depth of the midsole, wherein thesingle cutout extends through more than one layer of the sole; a shockabsorbing material positioned within and enclosed by the single cutout,the shock absorbing material disposed between the insole and a lowersurface of the single cutout; whereby the shock absorbing material isadapted for attenuating forces in the metatarsal region of the wearer'sfoot while walking.
 2. A high heeled shoe, consisting of: a solecomprising an outsole, a midsole, an insole, a forward toe portion, ametatarsal head region, and a rear heel portion; the forward toe portionconfigured to correspond in position to a toe region of a wearer's foot;the metatarsal head region configured to correspond in position to ametatarsal region of the wearer's foot; whereby the midsole is coveredby a coextensive layer of material disposed between the midsole and theinsole; the midsole and the coextensive layer of material comprising asingle cutout positioned at the metatarsal head region, the singlecutout contained entirely within the metatarsal head region; the singlecutout having an upper edge and an opposing lower edge, wherein theupper edge and the lower edge are disposed entirely on distinct planesparallel to one another each plane traversing an outermost lateral edgeof the sole to an outermost medial edge of the sole; wherein the singlecutout extends entirely from the outermost lateral edge of the sole tothe outermost medial edge of the sole; a shock absorbing materialpositioned within and enclosed by the single cutout, the shock absorbingmaterial disposed between the insole and a lower surface of the singlecutout; whereby the shock absorbing material is adapted for attenuatingforces in the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot while walking.